TOBACCO LEAF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 August 1945, Page 4

TOBACCO LEAF

INCREASE IN PRICE Id A POUND MORE FOR 1945 HARVEST (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day “An amending Price Order to be Gazetted fixes the price of tobacco leaf of the 1945 harvest at 2s Old a 10. for flue-eured leaf and Is 91d a lb. for air-Sried leaf,” the Minister of Industries and C ommerce, Mr I). Sullivan, said to-day. He added that when the Price Order was issued in May of this year he had stated that it was being issued to enable the purchasing of leaf to be proceeded with so that no hold-up would be caused, either to manufacturers who were ready to purchase or to growers who had supplies of leaf graded and leady for delivery Tentative prices then fixed were at the same level as in • the previous year, namely Is llid a lb. fo- flue-cured leaf and Is 81d for airdried leaf. A review had now been completed, as a result of which it had been decided to increase the price to growers of leaf tobacco by Id a pound and an amending Price Order had become necessary The Minister added that the increase was granted on the understanding that employers and employees should negotiate and come to an agreement on wage rates to be paid in the industry. Mr Sullivan stated that in respect of future production any increased costs arising from pending wage increases would be compensated for in the customary manner on a fair and equitable basis. That, however, would be preceded by a full investigation of production costs and growers' accounts for several years would be examined for that purpose.